Abaddon Series by Christina Winds

He hadn't wanted to be king But when he removed the sadistic king of Abaddon, he inherited the job anyway. Now, a thousand years later, Eric Lichner is finally on track to lead his banished people back to Earth. There is one final test of his worthiness to be passed…if only he can figure out what it is. He finally finds his teacher at a charity dinner - but the lesson isn't what he thinks. She'd never thought to be a queen Tamara was living her dream... moreHe hadn't wanted to be king But when he removed the sadistic king of Abaddon, he inherited the job anyway. Now, a thousand years later, Eric Lichner is finally on track to lead his banished people back to Earth. There is one final test of his worthiness to be passed…if only he can figure out what it is. He finally finds his teacher at a charity dinner - but the lesson isn't what he thinks. She'd never thought to be a queen Tamara was living her dream. Her life's ambition was to help people and her charitable foundation was thriving. It satisfied her soul - if she ignored that one lonely, man-shaped corner. Then she meets Eric and her dream explodes beyond her wildest imagination. AbaddonA realm of races banished for misbehavior. The stories of their crimes live on in myth and legend…Except the truth isn't what you've heard. less

Spy. Assassin. Inventor. Phillip Lichner is used to knowing what needs doing and how to do it with skillful efficiency. But with a big brother who is the king of Abaddon and the acknowledged strongest lich ever known, Phillip has always felt second-best. Still, when his brother, King Eric, asks him to come to Earth to get a spy network established before the banished Abaddonites are allowed to return, Phillip can't refuse... moreSpy. Assassin. Inventor. Phillip Lichner is used to knowing what needs doing and how to do it with skillful efficiency. But with a big brother who is the king of Abaddon and the acknowledged strongest lich ever known, Phillip has always felt second-best. Still, when his brother, King Eric, asks him to come to Earth to get a spy network established before the banished Abaddonites are allowed to return, Phillip can't refuse. He has always supported Eric to the best of his ability and he knows an efficient network will be critical in maintaining Eric's control over the volatile races of Abaddon. But how long is it going to take to recruit spies for magical beings in an unfamiliar world full of magically-blind humans? Then he meets Rebecca and he is no longer quite so impatient to get his task done so he can return to Abaddon. Rebecca Smythe fought hard for her job with the FBI—against the good ol' boy's club, controlling relationships, and even her own father. She's not about to give it up just because she finds Phillip so intriguing. Minor flirting is all she'll allow rather than risk forming an attachment that would have her defending her life choices yet again. But when a case goes sour and Phillip is the only one she can trust, his unconditional support makes her question her view of relationships—if she can get past the fact that he's not quite human. Then again, it's not only the banished races that can be monstrous. The humans she chases are far more 'monster' than the handsome lich helping her. less

He's fighting for his people. She's fighting for her legacy.Honored to be chosen as one of the first from Abaddon allowed back on Earth, Cliff is determined not to waste the opportunity to help the struggling orc race. If he can just learn how to create a magic-powered computer, his race will have the income and freedom they need to heal... moreHe's fighting for his people. She's fighting for her legacy.Honored to be chosen as one of the first from Abaddon allowed back on Earth, Cliff is determined not to waste the opportunity to help the struggling orc race. If he can just learn how to create a magic-powered computer, his race will have the income and freedom they need to heal.Victoria has dreamed of running her late father's computer manufacturing business since she could walk—preferably before her spitefully incompetent mother finishes destroying it. In the meantime, she's more than willing to help the fascinating man who wants to learn all about computers.But just as she learns Cliff is even more fascinating than she knew, the fight for her father's business turns more dangerous than she could have imagined. less